The Archdiocese of New York is fully committed to preventing the sexual exploitation of minors, and to identifying any instance in which it does occur. To this end, all personnel with regular contact with children must receive specific training in identifying and responding to potential incidents of sexual misconduct. Although education alone cannot prevent or change inappropriate sexual behavior, it is essential to help each person to grow and mature in Christian sexuality, and to reduce risks to minors.

All of this is done to insure that the children and youth who attend parish and Archdiocesan programs are supervised by a staff that is fully trained to protect them from child abuse.

There are two training programs used in the Archdioceses of New York -- VIRTUS "Protecting God's Children" and "Safer Spaces" (a program developed by our Office for use in the Archdiocese). Personnel must attend a training class as follows:

All clergy must attend a VIRTUS "Protecting God's Children" class (this includes all priests, deacons, and candidates for ordination).

Other employees must attend either a VIRTUS "Protecting God's Children" class or a "Safer Spaces" class (this would include business, clerical or custodial staff at our parishes and schools).

Volunteers must attend either a VIRTUS "Protecting God's Children" class or a "Safer Spaces" class.

All personnel who are in regular contact with children will be also provided with a continuing education newsletter by the Safe Environment Office. For more information about the newsletter, click here.

To register for a VIRTUS class, please click
here. This link will take you directly to the VIRTUS website, which has a list of all classes offered by the Archdiocese. Please follow all the directions, and provide all the information requested. Please also note that these classes are offered only for those who work or are employed by the Archdiocese of New York. Those who are working or volunteering for other dioceses should contact the Safe Environment Office of that diocese.

The Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children & Young People also requires that education be provided to children, youth and parents about sexual abuse and its prevention. As a result, safe environment lessons are incorporated into the curriculum of both the schools and religious education programs. These lessons are provided as part of the regular classes attended by our students, and are both age-appropriate and doctrinally sound. A copy of the curriculum guidelines, which are entitled "Right, Safe and Good Relationships", can be downloaded here.

The Department of Education of the Archdiocese offers information and resources to parents, who are the primary educators of our children. All parents are invited to download this "Fact Sheet" to help them keep their children safe (also available in Spanish), and should also consult our "Tips for Parents" page.

If parents choose not to have their child participate in the safe environment training, they must sign a form acknowledging that the information about preventing child sexual abuse was made available to them. This form is available for children in the schools or in the religious education programs.

Our Office has also produced age-appropiate materials to use in conjunction with the safe environment classroom lessons:

A coloring book for the primary grades. To download a black and white version of the coloring book, which you can reproduce for your program, click either the English Coloring Book or Spanish Coloring Book. To order pre-printed and bound coloring books with a glossy color cover, contact Geri at Bronx Design at 718.409.9874.

Decorative posters that can be used in your parish or school. Our Office has also produced decorative posters to use in conjunction with the safe environment classroom lessons. To order the posters, contact Geri at Bronx Design at 718.409.9874.

You can view a full-sized version of the poster or download a small printable version (in Adobe PDF format):

A comic book for the older grades. To download the comic book to be reproduced for your program, click here (a Spanish edition is being prepared and will be posted soon). To order pre-printed and bound comic books with a glossy color cover, contact Geri at Bronx Design at 718.409.9874.